Surgical Masks
* May include masks labeled as surgical, laser, isolation, dental, or medical procedure masks.
* May help protect against exposure to microorganisms, body fluids, and large particles in the air.
* Are designed to cover the mouth and nose loosely, but are not sized for individual fit.
* May help prevent exposure of patients to the wearer's saliva and respiratory secretions.
 
Surgical N95 respirators
* Surgical N95 respirators are designed to reduce but cannot eliminate the wearer's exposure to airborne biological contaminants.
They do not eliminate the risk of illness, disease, or death.
* Form a tight seal over the mouth and nose.
* Require fit-testing and must be adjusted to your face to provide the intended effectiveness.
* Employers and users are required to follow the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, 29CFR 1910.134.
* Have specific use instructions, warnings and limitations for use in healthcare environments.
 
 
Approval
Industrial N95 Respirators
* Are designed to reduce but cannot eliminate the wearer's exposure against certain airborne particles and aerosols free of oil.
* Form a tight seal over the mouth and nose. Employers & users are required to follow the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard,
29CFR 1910.134.
* These respirators (without valves) can also help prevent exhalation of contamination by the wearer to others in the work
environment.
* Require fit-testing and must be adjusted to your face to provide the intended effectiveness.
* Have specific use instructions, warnings and limitations for use in industrial environments.
 
Approval And Certification
Surgical Masks
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) clears surgical masks for sale in the United States. The FDA does not test and certify the
respirator. Instead, they clear the respirator for sale after reviewing the manufacturer's test data and proposed claims. The
manufacturer performs and submits the results from several tests, including particle filtration efficiency, bacterial filter
efficiency, fluid resistance, etc. The particulate filter efficiency gives an indication of the quality of the healthcare surgical
 
efficiency rating and should not be used as a comparison between the two.
Surgical N95 Respirators
Surgical Masks
The most important thing to remember about surgical masks is that they are not designed to pass a fit test. As explained above,
their purpose is to help protect the environment and other nearby persons from the wearer's contaminants. When most surgical masks
are worn, they will have gaps around the edges that allow many small particles to enter the respiratory system of the wearer. Even
tighter fitting surgical masks will have some gaps that allow many small particles to enter the wearer's respiratory system.
Surgical N95 & Industrial N95 Respirators
Respirators are designed to seal the respirator to the face and pass a fit test. Under Respiratory Protection Standard 29 CFR
1910.134, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the wearer of a respirator to be fit tested before
they can use the respirator in a contaminated environment. OSHA also requires the wearer to perform user seal checks on the
respirator before each use, as well as comply with the other elements of a comprehensive respiratory protection program in
accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. If the wearer is unable to obtain a proper fit, they must not enter the contaminated area. For
more information on this standard, please visit the OSHA website at www.osha.gov. A properly fit tested N95 Respirator will
greatly reduce the number of small particles which will enter the wearer's respiratory system as compared to a surgical mask that
 
Respirators available from 95% to 99.97% filter efficiency) and the wearer's proper donning and wearing of the Respirator
according to the training the employer provides as required by OSHA regulations.
Length Of Wear
Surgical Masks
While each facility has a different policy, surgical masks in general are discarded after each procedure. They are typically worn
only for specific procedures.
Surgical N95 & Industrial N95 Respirators
Respirators must be put on and taken off in an area outside of the contaminated area. Putting a respirator on or taking it off
even for a few seconds in a contaminated area can expose the wearer to significant levels of hazards. Each facility has a
different policy on disposal of the respirator depending on use conditions and the type of hazard that these products are being
used to protect against..